EP1416431A1 - Docking station for writing to electronically writable display - Google Patents
Docking station for writing to electronically writable display Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1416431A1 EP1416431A1 EP20030078272 EP03078272A EP1416431A1 EP 1416431 A1 EP1416431 A1 EP 1416431A1 EP 20030078272 EP20030078272 EP 20030078272 EP 03078272 A EP03078272 A EP 03078272A EP 1416431 A1 EP1416431 A1 EP 1416431A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- tag
- return reminder
- docking station
- reminder tag
- return
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K17/00—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
- G06K17/0022—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device
Abstract
A docking station (40) for reading and writing an electronically writable
return reminder tag (10) located on a surface of a rental item (30), the rental item or the
return reminder tag having locating features and the return reminder tag including
an electronically writable bistable display, a machine readable code (22) identifying
the rental item, and a plurality of conductive pads (12) located on the front side of the
tag for writing to the display, includes a body defining complementary locating
features for locating the rental item bearing the return reminder tag with respect to
the docking station; a scanner (60) for scanning the machine readable code on the
return reminder tag; and a plurality of contact pins (50) for contacting the conductive
pads of the return reminder tag.
Description
- The present invention relates to a structure having an electronically writable display with front electrical contacts.
- Currently when an item is rented from any rental store such as a pre-recorded video cassette, DVD, or video game, the customer is given verbal instructions indicating the date of return. The return information can also be written on the receipt, which is usually tossed out by the customer. Very often, however, the customer forgets the verbal instructions as well as loses track of the receipt which states the return date and time. When the rented item is returned late to the rental store, substantial monetary penalties are charged.
- Pending US Serial No. 10/134,185 filed April 29, 2002 by Stephenson et al. proposes a programmable return reminder tag having a bistable liquid crystal display for displaying return data and a Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code, wherein the information programmed in the display remains on the display in the absence of power. The return reminder tag has a set of electrical contacts on the front side of the display.
- US 6,201,587, issued March 13, 2001 to Sakamaki shows a writable liquid crystal display for a video cassette that indicates the contents of the cassette. An indexing apparatus includes a body having an aperture for receiving the cassette, a thermal print head for writing information on the display and an operator interface including a display and operation knobs on the front of the indexing apparatus. The problem with such an indexing apparatus is that it is suitable only for writing on a display on only one particular type of cassette.
- There is a need therefore for a writer that can be used to write on a display tag affixed to a video cassette, a DVD, or a video game case.
- The need is met according to the present invention by providing a docking station for reading and writing an electronically writable return reminder tag located on a surface of a rental item, the rental item or the return reminder tag having locating features and the return reminder tag including an electronically writable bistable display, a machine readable code identifying the rental item, and a plurality of conductive pads located on the front side of the tag for writing to the display, that includes a body defining complementary locating features for locating the rental item bearing the return reminder tag with respect to the docking station; a scanner for scanning the machine readable code on the return reminder tag; and a plurality of contact pins for contacting the conductive pads of the return reminder tag.
- The invention provides a label writer that can be used with writable labels provided on a variety of different sized containers.
- Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an adhesive backed printable sheet with a plurality peel off return reminder label and a display ready to be attached with conductive adhesive;
- Fig. 2 is a front view of an individual return reminder tag with the display attached to a label having a printed bar code;
- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a rental item with a return reminder tag attached;
- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a return reminder docking device according to the present invention showing the plurality of contact pins for changing the information on the return reminder tag, an opening in the docking device for viewing the bar code on the return reminder tag, and a biasing spring and roller;
- Fig. 5 is a top view of the docking device with the rental item in place and bias spring and roller removed;
- Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the docking device of Fig. 5, taken along line 6-6; and
- Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an inventory control system for rental items according to the present invention.
-
- Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an array of die
cut labels 5 on aprintable sheet 20 with an adhesive backing are shown. Adisplay 15 with a conductive adhesive backing is shown ready to be attached to one of thedie cut labels 5. Printed on eachlabel 5 is an array ofconductive pads 12.Displays 15 are adhered tolabels 5 using conductive adhesive such as anisotropically conductive adhesive, and placed over a portion of theconductive pads 12 to complete the assembly ofreturn reminder tag 10. The sheet with the assembled return tags is flexible and can be fed through a standard ink jet or laser printer. As shown in Fig. 2,bar code information 22 is printed on the front side ofreturn tag 10 before the assembled return tag is removed from thesheet 20. Thebar code 22 uniquely identifies thereturn reminder tag 10, and can be associated in a database as described below with an identification of the particular rental item that the tag will be attached to. Thereturn reminder tag 10 includes one ormore displays 15 having patternedconductive character elements 25 over a layer of polymer stabilized liquid crystal material. Thedisplays 15 can be made as shown in US Serial No. 10/134,185, referenced above. As shown in Fig. 2, the day and time information displayed onbistable display 15 is depicted as alphabetic characters, but alternatively can be expressed as the standard numeric character designation for day, month, year or time of day. - The completed
return reminder tag 10 is adhered to arental item 30 as shown in Fig. 3.Conductive pads 12 and theunique bar code 22 are accessible from the front of thereturn reminder tag 10. The bar code can be scanned to identify the rental item and an electrical signal can be applied to theconductive pads 12 to change the reflective state ofcharacter elements 25 to indicate a day and time for return of the item to a rental outlet. - Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a
docking station 40 for reading thebar code 22 and changing the reflective state of the electronically writablereturn reminder tag 10 located on the surface of arental item 30 is shown. The rental item or the return tag includes locating features, such as a pair of perpendicular edges that can be used to accurately positions thereturn tag 10 with respect to thedocking station 40. Thedocking station 40 includes complementary locating features such as asurface 45 and a pair ofperpendicular alignment edges 35 against which the rental item can be urged. A plurality ofcontact pins 50 protrude from thesurface 45 to contact theconductive pads 12 of thetag 10 onrental item 30 when therental item 30 is placed onsurface 45 and urged againstalignment edges 35. - A
bar code scanner 60 viewing through an opening orwindow 65 can read thebar code information 22. One or more sensors (such as micro switches) 55 are located in thealignment edges 35. When properly located, a signal from thesensors 55 can be employed to activate an indicator 70 (such as an LED) to show the proper placement is achieved for scanning thebar code information 22 and applying electrical signals to thecontact pins 50 to change the state of thedisplay 15. Acircuit board 75 with drive electronics for processing signals from the sensors applies signals to theindicator 70 and thecontact pins 50 is included indocking device 40. - As shown in Fig. 6, a biasing spring with a
roller 85 are used to apply downward force to therental item 30 to bias the rental item ontosurface 45 ofdocking device 40 as the rental item is urged into contact withalignment edges 35. Thecircuit board 75 and thebar code scanner 60 are connected to apower cable 81 and acommunications cable 82. - Referring to Fig. 7, an inventory control system for rental items includes
control electronics 88 connected to an operator interface, such as akeyboard 90, adisplay 92, adatabase 94, a printer (such as a laser or inkjet printer) 96, and an input/output interface 98. The control electronics, display, database, printer, input output interface, and operator interface may comprise for example a personal laptop computer system 100.Printer 96 is used to print the bar codes and other information, such as title or rental outlet identification on the return reminder tags prior to affixing the tags to the rental items. Theinput output interface 98 is connected to thedrive electronics 75 andbar code scanner 60 indocking station 40 by acommunications cable 82. DC power is provided to the laptop computer system 100 anddocking station 40 by anAC adapter 83. - In operation, an operator first prints bar code and other identifying information on a sheet of return reminder tags using
computer system 100. The bar codes associated with the identities of individual rental items are stored indata base 94. The operator then affixes the return reminder tags to a predetermined location on the respective rental items, for example by using an alignment template. When an item is rented, the operator inserts the rental item bearing the return reminder tag into the docking station and urges the item against thealignment edges 35 of the docking station. - When
sensors 55 indicate that the rental item is properly seated in thedocking station 40, thebar code scanner 60, scans the bar code information onreturn reminder tag 10 through opening 65 in thedocking station 40. The signal read by the bar code scanner is sent to thecontrol electronics 88 where the identification of the rental item is retrieved and displayed ondisplay 92. The operator indicates to the control electronics viaoperator interface 90 whether the transaction is a rental or a return. - If the transaction is a return, the
control electronics 88 sends a signal to thedocking station 40 to erase the day and time information on thereturn reminder tag 10, and updates the inventory database showing that the item has been returned and is available for renting. If the transaction is a rental, thecontrol electronics 88 retrieves rental duration information stored with the identification of the rental item (for example, a two or a five day rental) or a rental duration input by the operator, calculates a return day and time (i.e. AM or PM) and sends a signal to thedocking station 40 for writing the return day and time on the rental reminder tag. - In the
docking station 40, when thecontact pins 50 are in position to make contact withconductive pads 12 onrental reminder tag 10, as indicated by theposition sensors 55, the appropriate electronic signals for erasing or writing the return day and time are sent viawires 80 from thecircuit board 75 to contactpins 50 to change the reflective state ofcharacter elements 25 on thereturn reminder tag 10. The rental item is then removed from the docking station and returned to stock or given to the customer.
Claims (4)
- An inventory control system for rental items, comprising:a) an electronically writable return reminder tag located on a surface of a rental item at a predetermined location, the return reminder tag including an electronically writable bistable display, a machine readable code identifying the rental item, and a plurality of conductive pads located on the front side of the tag for writing to the display;b) a docking station having a body defining a surface for supporting the surface of the rental item bearing the return reminder tag, and a pair of perpendicular alignment edges arranged with respect to the surface of the docking station to align the rental item with respect to the surface of the docking station; a scanning aperture located in the surface of the docking station for accessing the machine readable code on the return reminder tag; a plurality of contact pins located on the surface of the docking aperture for contacting the conductive pads of the return reminder tag;c) a data base containing an inventory of rental items;d) an operator interface for an operator to indicate a check in or check out condition; ande) control electronics connected to the docking station, the data base and the operator interface, the control electronics being responsive to a check in signal from the operator interface for reading the machine readable code and updating the database to indicate that the rental item has been checked in, and responsive to a check out signal from the operator interface for applying appropriate voltages to the contact pins for writing to the display on the return reminder tag and for updating the database to show that the item has been checked out.
- A docking station for reading and writing an electronically writable return reminder tag located on a surface of a rental item at a predetermined location, the return reminder tag including an electronically writable bistable display, a machine readable code identifying the rental item, and a plurality of conductive pads located on the front side of the tag for writing to the display, comprising:a) a body defining a surface for supporting the surface of the rental item bearing the return reminder tag;b) a pair of perpendicular alignment edges arranged with respect to the surface of the docking station to align the rental item with respect to the surface of the docking station;c) a scanning aperture located in the surface of the docking station for accessing the machine readable code on the return reminder tag; andd) a plurality of contact pins located on the surface of the docking aperture for contacting the conductive pads of the return reminder tag.
- An inventory control system for rental items, comprising:a) an electronically writable return reminder tag located on a rental item, the rental item or the return reminder tag having locating features and the return reminder tag including an electronically writable bistable display, a machine readable code identifying the rental item, and a plurality of conductive pads located on the front side of the tag for writing to the display;b) a docking station having a body defining complementary locating features for locating the rental item with respect to the docking station, a scanner for scanning the machine readable code on the return reminder tag; a plurality of contact pins for contacting the conductive pads of the return reminder tag;c) a database containing an inventory of rental items; andd) control electronics connected to the docking station and the database, for reading the machine readable code and updating the database to indicate that the rental item has been checked in, for applying appropriate voltages to the contact pins for writing to the display on the return reminder tag, and for updating the database to show that the item has been checked out.
- A docking station for reading and writing an electronically writable return reminder tag located on a surface of a rental item, the rental item or the return reminder tag having locating features and the return reminder tag including an electronically writable bistable display, a machine readable code identifying the rental item, and a plurality of conductive pads located on the front side of the tag for writing to the display, comprising:a) a body defining complementary locating features for locating the rental item bearing the return reminder tag with respect to the docking station;b) a scanner for scanning the machine readable code on the return reminder tag; andc) a plurality of contact pins for contacting the conductive pads of the return reminder tag.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US282806 | 1999-03-31 | ||
US10/282,806 US7104448B2 (en) | 2002-10-29 | 2002-10-29 | Docking station for writing to electronically writable display |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1416431A1 true EP1416431A1 (en) | 2004-05-06 |
Family
ID=32093482
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP20030078272 Withdrawn EP1416431A1 (en) | 2002-10-29 | 2003-10-17 | Docking station for writing to electronically writable display |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7104448B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1416431A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2004151719A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1499423A (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090146804A1 (en) * | 2007-02-14 | 2009-06-11 | Visible Assets Inc. | Two-Tiered Networked Identification Cards |
WO2005081779A2 (en) * | 2004-02-19 | 2005-09-09 | Kent Displays Incorporated | Staked display with shared electrode addressing |
US7236151B2 (en) * | 2004-01-28 | 2007-06-26 | Kent Displays Incorporated | Liquid crystal display |
CN100513158C (en) * | 2004-01-28 | 2009-07-15 | 肯特显示器公司 | Liquid crystal display film |
GB2426371B (en) * | 2004-01-28 | 2007-08-08 | Kent Displays Inc | Drapable Liquid Crystal Transfer Display Films |
US8199086B2 (en) | 2004-01-28 | 2012-06-12 | Kent Displays Incorporated | Stacked color photodisplay |
US20060202925A1 (en) * | 2004-12-07 | 2006-09-14 | William Manning | Remote cholesteric display |
US7791700B2 (en) * | 2005-09-16 | 2010-09-07 | Kent Displays Incorporated | Liquid crystal display on a printed circuit board |
JP2007087151A (en) * | 2005-09-22 | 2007-04-05 | Okamura Corp | Management system of articles |
US20090109006A1 (en) * | 2007-10-29 | 2009-04-30 | Greg Helmstetter | Media Case Date Indicator |
CN107301589A (en) * | 2017-06-22 | 2017-10-27 | 芜湖久恒包装科技有限公司 | A kind of hoarding box operation system |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5288980A (en) * | 1992-06-25 | 1994-02-22 | Kingsley Library Equipment Company | Library check out/check in system |
US5290066A (en) * | 1990-12-06 | 1994-03-01 | Mody Hemant K | Magnetic label and use thereof |
US20020135707A1 (en) * | 2001-03-05 | 2002-09-26 | Eastman Kodak Company | Rewritable display having a dielectric spacing layer |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5111196A (en) * | 1987-03-23 | 1992-05-05 | Esl, Inc. | Electronic information display module and connector therefor |
US5241467A (en) * | 1992-04-30 | 1993-08-31 | Ers Associates Limited Partnership | Space management system |
US5751257A (en) * | 1995-04-28 | 1998-05-12 | Teletransactions, Inc. | Programmable shelf tag and method for changing and updating shelf tag information |
US6269342B1 (en) * | 1995-04-28 | 2001-07-31 | Telxon Corporation | Programmable shelf tag system |
TW412744B (en) | 1996-02-13 | 2000-11-21 | Dainippon Printing Co Ltd | Device with display portion capable of rewriting |
US6753830B2 (en) * | 1998-09-11 | 2004-06-22 | Visible Tech-Knowledgy, Inc. | Smart electronic label employing electronic ink |
US20010015788A1 (en) | 1999-12-27 | 2001-08-23 | Makiko Mandai | Displaying system for displaying information on display |
-
2002
- 2002-10-29 US US10/282,806 patent/US7104448B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2003
- 2003-10-17 EP EP20030078272 patent/EP1416431A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2003-10-22 JP JP2003361598A patent/JP2004151719A/en active Pending
- 2003-10-28 CN CNA200310102391XA patent/CN1499423A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5290066A (en) * | 1990-12-06 | 1994-03-01 | Mody Hemant K | Magnetic label and use thereof |
US5288980A (en) * | 1992-06-25 | 1994-02-22 | Kingsley Library Equipment Company | Library check out/check in system |
US20020135707A1 (en) * | 2001-03-05 | 2002-09-26 | Eastman Kodak Company | Rewritable display having a dielectric spacing layer |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN1499423A (en) | 2004-05-26 |
US20040080477A1 (en) | 2004-04-29 |
US7104448B2 (en) | 2006-09-12 |
JP2004151719A (en) | 2004-05-27 |
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